FRANKFORT, Ky. – Governor Steve Beshear today joined with local and state officials in Garrard County to celebrate and ceremonially open a widened section of U.S. 27 designed to improve safety and traffic flow along the chief corridor of a growing region.

“As our communities continue to grow, we must support the fundamental transportation improvements that accommodate that growth,” said Gov. Beshear. “The widening of this section of U.S. 27 was needed to assist with further economic development while making the flow of traffic safer and more efficient.”

The $41 million project involved the reconstruction and widening of U.S. 27 from Camp Nelson to just south of KY 34. On average, the highway carries 18,500 vehicles per day, and traffic is projected to reach 37,000 vehicles per day by 2028.

The improved roadway has four lanes with turn lanes. The work, completed in August 2012, was carried out as a “design/build” project, a time-saving method in which multiple building phases, such as design and construction, progress simultaneously. The traditional method is for design to be completed before a project is put out to bid.

The design/build team included the Allen Company, HMB Professional Engineers and GRW Engineers.

“U.S. 27 is an accomplishment the citizens of Garrard County deserve and with this progress may more economic success bestow on its citizens,” said Sen. Tom Buford, of Nicholasville.

“This is a day of celebration for the people of Garrard County because the completion of this new section of highway represents a new path of economic development opportunities for our county,” said Rep. Lonnie Napier, of Lancaster. “This new four-lane highway also offers a safer route for Garrard County, with the hopes that it will reduce the number of accidents that the previous two-lane section of U.S. 27 saw on an annual basis.”

A continuation of this project to widen U.S. 27 from KY 34 to the U.S. 150 Bypass is planned.